Grading System at Ramsey High School

Grade Point Average (GPA)

• To determine GPA, the final letter grades from all courses, except physical education, Teaching Assistant and those designated Pass/Fail, are used.  GPA is cumulative.

• Our weighing system assigns quality points based on the level of the course taken. Courses labeled Honors or Advanced Placement receive one additional point.

GPA Quality Points:

Mid-Year & Final Averages:

• If the decimal part of the average is .15, .5, or .85 then the Mid-Year or Final Average MUST be rounded UP to the next highest grade. However, students need to earn 5 non-weighted points to pass a class.

• High Honor Roll: All A's (A+, A, A-) and not more than one B (B+, B, B-).

• Honor Roll: All A's (A+, A, A-) and B's (B+, B, B-) and not more than one C (C+, C, C-).

All provisions of the Ramsey High School attendance policy are applicable to all courses listed in the curriculum guide.

Pass/Fail Option:

• Ramsey High School offers a wide range of courses in a variety of disciplines. To allow students an opportunity to experience these offerings and not jeopardize their class rank, a pass/fail option has been adopted. The guidelines are:

• To be eligible a student must have a B (3.0) or better grade point average in all prior course work. Incoming freshmen must have achieved a 3.0 average in all coursework taken in the 8th grade.

• Only specified courses stipulated by the department are eligible to be taken on a pass/fail basis (list below).

• Students must sign up for 35 credits, grades 9-12. Any other subjects beyond those credit limits, as noted in “b” above, may be taken on a pass/fail basis.

• Declaration of pass-fail for a course must take place before the beginning of the course.

• Regular marking period grades will be assigned and all required work, i.e., participation, homework, class work, tests, papers, exams, etc., must be submitted.

• A “P” (pass) and credit will be awarded to students with a minimum “D” average in the courses.

• Pass/Fail courses will not be calculated into the GPA rank computation.

Courses offered for Pass/Fail:

• English: Journalism, The Motion Picture

• Fine Arts: All offerings in Home Economics, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts* (*except AP 2D Art and Design) 

• Industrial Arts: All offerings

• Social Studies: Eleventh and twelfth grade electives, i.e. Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, Liberty and Justice: Our Legal System in Action, and World Challenge.

HONORS OPTION

At Ramsey High School, we value students investing their energy in areas of interest/curiosity.  Part of our Profile of a Graduate initiative is focused on helping students find purpose in their education and encourage scholarship, leadership, and commitment.  The Honors Option was initiated to give students completing advanced coursework in certain elective areas the chance to earn honors credit for their efforts. This additional advanced coursework/scholarship is meant to be student-directed and completed mostly outside of class.  

Honors Option Basic Parameters

• Students can elect to take defined upper level elective courses for “honors” credit.

• For the 2021-22 School Year, those courses will be:

  • Visual Arts 2

  • Advanced Ceramics and Sculpture

  • Advanced Automotive Technology

  • Advanced Woodworking

  • Advanced Photography

  • Architectural Drawing

  • Engineering Drawing

• Students must declare their intention to pursue the Honors Option in a given course within the first two weeks of the school year.  For the 2023-24 school year, the deadline will be October 7, 2023.

• When a student successfully fulfills the “honors option” expectations in a given course, the student will earn a “weighted average” grade in the course.  To earn the “weighted average” grade in a course, a student must a) successfully meets regular course expectations and b) in addition complete the required honors option work outlined by the course and teacher.  

• Some components of the honors option will vary by discipline.  These components could include:

  • In-depth research/writing on a topic related to course

  • Journal 

  • Portfolio 

  • Work Documentation